How sounds affect our lives. Sound of music in the environment

The world of sounds is so diverse, rich, beautiful, diverse,
But we are all tormented by the question: “Where do the sounds come from that delight our ears everywhere?”….

It's time to think seriously... This is what our online lesson on the world around us is about...

Sound

Sound- these are elastic waves in a medium (often in air), which are invisible, but perceived by the human ear (the wave acts on the eardrum).

When an object vibrates, which can be solid, such as a string or the earth's crust, or gaseous, such as a stream of air in a wind instrument musical instruments or in a whistle or liquid, for example, waves on water, the air also vibrates. This is how they are formed sound waves , which spread in all directions.

For example, a string on a guitar normal condition does not sound, but as soon as we make it perform oscillatory movements, a sound wave arises.

If we create a vacuum, will we be able to distinguish sounds?

Vacuum is a space free of matter.

Robert Boyle in 1660 placed the clock in glass vessel. After pumping out the air, he heard no sound. Experience proves that a medium is needed for sound to propagate . Therefore, sound cannot be heard in space: it cannot propagate in emptiness.

Sound can also travel through liquid and solid media. The impacts of stones can be clearly heard underwater. And in calm weather you can whisper across the river.

Sound doesn't travel well soft objects: in them the waves quickly fade.

Place the clock on one end of the wooden board. By placing your ear to the other end, you can clearly hear the ticking of the clock.

A sound wave travels through a tree.

However, experience shows that not every oscillating body is a source of sound. For example, a weight suspended on a thread does not make a sound. The fact is that the human ear does not perceive all waves, but only those that create bodies oscillating with a frequency from 16 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Such waves are calledsound . Oscillations with a frequency less than 16Hz are calledinfrasound . Oscillations with a frequency greater than 20,000 Hz are calledultrasound .

Sound waves do not travel instantly, but at a certain speed. That is why during a thunderstorm we first see lightning, that is, light (the speed of light is much greater than the speed of sound), and then sound is heard.

The speed of sound depends on the medium: in solids and liquids, the speed of sound is much greater than in air.

The bones of the skull also conduct sound well. When talking, we hear not only the sounds that others hear, but also the low-frequency component of the sound of the voice, which reaches you through the bones of the skull. However, when listening to a tape recording of our own voice, we hear only what could be recorded - sounds whose conductor is air.
What's happened bone conduction ? If we plug our ears with our fingertips and start talking or chewing, the sounds we hear are predominantly low-frequency sounds that reach the inner ear thanks to bone conduction. Air vibrations arising in the oral cavity are transmitted to the lower jaw and reach the inner ear.

If the shell of a sea mollusk is brought close to the ear, a sound is heard that resembles the distant sound of the sea. What is the origin of this sound?

Ambient sounds excite resonant vibrations of the air inside the shell. These vibrations create the illusion of the sounds of the sea surf for a person leaning a shell to his ear.

Did you know that...

• Those who worked in underwater structures confirm that shore sounds can be clearly heard underwater, and fishermen know that fish swim away at the slightest suspicious noise on the shore.
• Jellyfish sense a storm 12 hours in advance, picking up infrasound from a distant cyclone.
• The most quiet place- The “Dead Room”, measuring 10.67 x 8.5 m in Laboratory, USA, is the most sound-absorbing room in the world, in which 99.98% of reflected sound disappears.

Light

We see the space around us, constantly hear sounds from various sources, we feel heat and cold, we do not notice that we are constantly in the zone of radiation that comes from huge amount signal sources, radio and telecommunications. Almost everything around us emits electromagnetic radiation.

Electromagnetic radiation - these are electromagnetic waves created by various emitting objects - charged particles, atoms, molecules.

The heat emanating from a burning fire is an electromagnetic wave, or rather infrared radiation , and of very high intensity, we don’t see it, but we can feel it. Doctors took an x-ray and irradiated electromagnetic waves , possessing high penetrating ability, but we did not feel or see these waves. The fact that electric current and all devices that operate under its influence are sources electromagnetic radiation , of course, you all know.

But there are electromagnetic waves that we see. WITH vet- This is radiation that is emitted by a heated body or a substance in an excited state.

Lightis a stream of special vibrating particles (much smaller than an atom) with high energy.

Light, unlike sound, does not need a medium to propagate and travels freely space. The speed of light is so high that in 2 seconds the beam manages to reach the Moon and, after being reflected, return to Earth.

We see the sun, fire or light bulb because they emit light. We see all other objects because they reflect light from the sun or light bulb. Without a light source, objects become invisible in the dark.

I’ll say right away that there are two scientific hypotheses about the concept of “light” that arose at the end of the 17th century, corpuscular And wave.

According to corpuscular theory, light is stream of tiny light particles (corpuscles), which fly at great speed.

Wave theory viewed light as wave process , similar to mechanical waves.

Sound waves are much longer than light waves and therefore bend around obstacles much more easily. Standing in the yard, we do not see cars walking down the street, blocked from us by the house, but we hear them.

One of the characteristics of light is itscolor.

The first step towards solving the color was taken Isaac Newton , when he was still a young graduate of Cambridge University. Having done small hole in the window shutter, he placed a triangular glass prism under a beam of sunlight, and all the colors of the rainbow began to play on the opposite wall: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

Newton named this color band spectrum. Spectrum from Latin spectrum– visible. The sequence of colors in the spectrum helps to remember the phrase “Every Hunter Wants to Know Where the Pheasant Goes,” in which the first letters of the words coincide with the first letters of the names of the colors. Where in nature can we see this spectrum?…. That's right, it's a rainbow.

A rainbow occurs when sunlight experiences refraction in water droplets slowly falling in the air. These droplets bend light differently different colors, resulting in White light decomposes into a spectrum. It seems to us that a multi-colored glow emanates from space in concentric circles (arcs).

So, there are separate electromagnetic waves.

Each wave has its own length. Each wave is emitted light energy, that is, a red wave emits red light, an orange wave emits orange, a green wave emits green, etc.

Our ability to distinguish colors is explained by the fact that in the human retina there are three types of cells (cones) that have selective sensitivity to electromagnetic waves of different wavelengths. Some of them are particularly sensitive to red, others to green, and still others to blue. As a result, our eye is able to distinguish a wide variety of shades of all colors.

Of course, the perception of color depends on the person, his physical and psychological state. I note that on this moment, we're talking about specifically about the color of light radiation, and not about the color of objects. The figure shows the parameters of color and light that are dependent on each other.

Let's check how this works in practice. Let's take 3 light sources (spotlights) - red, green and blue. Each of these spotlights emits only one electromagnetic wave of a certain length. Red - corresponds to the emission of an electromagnetic wave with a length of approximately 625-740nm (the spectrum of the beam consists only of red), blue emits a wave with a length of 435-500nm (the spectrum of the beam consists only of of blue color), green – 500-565nm (only green color is in the beam spectrum). Three different waves and nothing else, there is no multi-colored spectrum and additional colors. Now let's direct the spotlights so that their rays partially overlap each other, as shown in the figure.

Look, where light rays intersect with each other, new light rays are formed - new colors. Green and red formed yellow, green and blue - cyan, blue and red - purple. Thus, by changing the brightness of light rays and combining colors, you can obtain a wide variety of color tones and shades of color.

Pay attention to the center of the intersection of green, red and blue colors: You will see white color in the center. White color is the sum of all colors. It is the “strongest color” of all the colors we see. The opposite of white is black. Black color- this is the complete absence of light at all. That is, where there is no light, there is darkness, everything becomes black.

The colors of objects depend on what wavelength of electromagnetic waves they reflect. For example, the skin of a tomato reflects only light with a wavelength corresponding to red, and the leaves only reflect rays Green colour. Therefore, if you shine only blue light on a tomato, it will turn black.

Let's return to this drawing, we talked in class about visible waves, but what are these waves that we don’t see?

For example, we no longer see waves slightly longer than red light. They are called infrared . True, we feel their heat rays. From a heating battery, from an electric stove. When the burner is at full heat, you can see its red glow in a dark kitchen.

Even longer than infrared rays radio waves , with the help of which a television studio or radio station transmits programs that can be watched and heard by people living in long distance from a radio wave source.

Even longer waves are able to penetrate into the body. Such waves are used in microwaves and medical devices that allow heating internal organs patient.

Ultra-violet rays have a wavelength shorter than that of violet light. We don’t see them either, but they have an even stronger effect on skin tanning than spectrum light.

Even shorter X-rays . Their energy is so great that they illuminate not very dense objects. They are used in X-ray machines and during customs inspection.

Finally, the shortest waves are radioactive radiation . Penetrating into us, they are able to destroy the molecules that make up the cells of our body. This is why getting into an area of ​​increased radioactivity is very dangerous to health.

It may seem incredible to many, but in recording studios, not only compositions of musical groups or performers are created, because in addition to this we also practice recording ambient sounds(English surround sound recording). Why is this necessary? - you ask. It's simple, sometimes such material is needed to create special effects, film nature and then substitute audio.

Nothing can compare with the feeling of a person as if he is part of nature, the elements. This is exactly the feeling that a skillfully processed composition gives.TopSound

So, let's talk in more detail about why it is necessary to record surrounding sounds. It all again depends on your goals. When shooting a documentary about wildlife, it is not always possible to fully capture the sound using a camera.

Video equipment may not be as sensitive to audio frequencies as specialized sound equipment. Everyone has heard the distinct sounds of rustling grass, birds singing, and the growling of wild animals in television programs about wildlife. All these sounds recorded using separate equipment.

In addition, a lot of material is recorded to create effects in the songs. Let's turn to the experience of music lovers. Most likely, you have more than once heard compositions in which, along with a symphonic relaxing melody, you can hear the drumming of rain, the rumble of thunder or the flow of a river. All this adds a specific mood to the melody; one might even say that this is the kind of music that can turn one’s thoughts into one’s thoughts, allowing the listener to concentrate or relax. Nothing can compare with the feeling of a person as if he is part of nature, the elements. This is exactly the feeling gives a skillfully processed composition.

Examples of portfolio with minus (ROCK, POP, REP)

Example 1. ROCK
Group “THE Y” - song “RUN FOR LIFE”

Example 2. ROCK
Group “We’re Burning” - Song “Sochi”

Example 3. POP
Song “More than Love” with minus + mixing

Example 4. POP
The song “Crying” with minus + mixing

Example 5. REP
Song “Give Me” with minus + mixing

Example 6. REP
Song “Propaganda of Truth” with minus + mixing

When else do you need to record sounds?

Recording ambient sounds can be important during all kinds of celebrations. Modern animators (as they used to say - mass entertainers), people working in the field of event organization very often use such audio tracks in their practice, playing out various situations in competitions. They often use sounds such as the roar of motorcycle engines, natural motifs, as well as random sounds such as creaking doors, people's exclamations, chirping birds and others.

The variety of variations of the sounds around us is truly amazing; many of them have long been used to create the most different types musical accompaniment. But to work on making such a track you need to work hard. After all, it is unlikely that it will be possible to write down required material in a short time. This business requires experience, patience and special equipment. (which is exactly available in the TopZvuk company). Come to our studio, we will definitely we will help you find and write down what you need. Recording ambient sounds for us- a common task. You may also be interested in renting a studio at affordable prices. Call us and we will be happy to answer all your questions!

IN English language There are many words and expressions that describe sound. Often these words are onomatopoeic, i.e. onomatopoeia (for example, buzz).

In English, these, as a rule, can be both nouns and regular ones. Let's explore them:

E.g. Did you hear that bang? It sounded like a gun.

E.g. I lay there hearing the buzz of a mosquito but I couldn’t see it anywhere.

E.g. to download the new software just click on the “download” icon.

E.g. I heard the screech of brakes as the driver tried to stop and then a loud crash.

E.g. We heard the screeching of tires as Helen’s boyfriend drew up outside her front door.

E.g. The dog was crunching on a bone that a neighbor had given it.

I heard the crunch of their feet walking through the crisp snow.

E.g. Please turn the tap off properly otherwise it’ll drip.

E.g. The cat arched its back and hissed at us as we walked it.

The snake reared its head and gave an angry hiss.

E.g. We could hear the hoot of the crowd in the football stadium from our hotel.

E.g. I don’t remember the words of the song, but I can hum the tune.

E.g. I had to get up and lock the door because it was rattling in the wind.

Every time a bus or lorry goes past, the windows rattle.

E.g. I hate people who roar at me when I slow down at an amber light.

The engine roared into life as he switched it on.

E.g. Please don’t slam the door. Close it gently.

E.g. Don't slurp your soup! Eat it quietly.

E.g. Mark’s got a cold, so he’s been sniffing all day.

Don't sniff! Get a handkerchief and blow your nose.

E.g. I can’t share a room with you if you snore – I won’t be able to sleep.

E.g. There was a splash as he jumped into the swimming pool.

E.g. When I’m nervous I often tap my fingers on the table.

E.g. It was so quiet in the room that you could hear the ticking of the clock.

E.g. Some of the players carried on playing because they hadn’t heard the whistle.

Can I ask you a question? Tell me, what melody is playing in your head right now? Maybe Schubert's Serenade or Vivaldi's The Four Seasons? Although, most likely, it was a simple song that was played near the nearest store?..

Do you always notice what sounds around you? Most people living in cities perceive constant background noise as something completely natural. The amount of sound information we absorb is enormous, but what of this do we perceive, hear, and what do we “pass over our ears”?

But here’s a paradox: whether we pay attention to what sounds around us or not, sounds affect us - our mood, our state. Music can “lift you to heaven,” fill you with life, or it can lead you to deep depression and even suicide. They knew about this in ancient times, then they forgot, but in the second half of the 20th century the connection between music and the psyche was remembered again.

Music is used in psychology and medicine, for example, for rehabilitation or anesthesia, there is “music for relaxation”, “music for production” and so on. At one time they appeared simple recipes: Tchaikovsky - for ulcers, Beethoven - for gastritis... But even if the same medicine is on different people affects everyone differently, can something as elusive as music affect everyone the same? Are we able to determine for ourselves what to listen to and what not, or are we just passive consumers of what is fashionable in our time?

"Ears are the gateway to the world"

Our hearing is our connection with the world, which we always, even unconsciously, strive to restore. The ability to hear can be developed, and it’s not only about physical hearing, but also about our attention, and most importantly, the desire to hear something or someone.

You should also pay more attention to music. How, with what help does it affect us? Its basis, or means of expression, is the same for any time and style:

1) rhythm and tempo;
2) melody and harmony;
3) shape;
4) dynamics, or sound volume.

Rhythm is the basis of everything

Day is night, effort is rest, and listen to the beating of your own heart... Nature cannot be called chaotic, everything is subject to order, the basis of which is rhythm, it sets movement, the energy of life. Put on live rhythmic music in the morning, for example, Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos or your favorite rock and roll, and you’ll get ready for work faster than usual, but Slow music in the morning he can play with you cruel joke. In the evening, a calm melody, such as a romantic piano or light jazz, will help you relax. Everyone, of course, will choose music to suit their taste.

The rhythm is also powerful tool unification, let us remember the magic of the Russian round dance, where there are no soloists, and the rhythm of each is woven into the general rhythm. Perhaps this was a reflection of how the life of each person is intertwined with the single life of nature. Nowadays we think less often about the laws of nature (although no one has abolished them), but it’s so great to feel “in the same rhythm” with someone, we strive for this, not wanting to be alone.

True, an obsessive hard rhythm can become dangerous, and especially dangerous if the scourge of our time is used - excessive sound volume.

“Humanity is stalling!”

How I sometimes want to sit in silence! But this does not seem to threaten us: the urban sound background (the noise of cars, construction vehicles, household appliances) is such that hearing quickly becomes dull. Add to this the development of reproducing technology (“the louder the better”), the usual headphones, and it becomes clear why doctors are sounding the alarm: “Humanity is going deaf!”

At a volume of 65 dB, we begin to react to music regardless of our ethical and aesthetic attitudes: any will cause severe tension, fatigue, and irritability.

Nowadays it is customary to accompany mass events, especially youth events, with loud music with an obsessive rhythm. What a great thing - it brings people together and adds drive! But psychologists warn: this demobilizes mental activity, destroys a person’s ability for personal communication, that is, we do not unite, but become attached to the rhythm of the music, no longer paying attention to those who are nearby. The famous crowd effect arises; outbursts of aggression are not surprising here, and you can inspire the crowd to do anything.

Do you know how to avoid the crowd effect? Don't hit it! And if you get caught, try not to lose yourself, remain human in any circumstances, the choice always remains.

Psychologists say that a person’s path depends on how he is able to harmonize his individual rhythm with the rhythms of other people. If a group of people, even a small one, achieves such harmony, it can move mountains, because its basis is respect, support, the desire to hear each other, and not suppress, as in the case of a crowd.

Melody and thought

We are all very different, so ready-made recipes from the Internet will not suit everyone. And again I want to say: the choice is always ours. You can absorb simple melodies from TV, but psychologists are not satisfied with our pop culture in this regard either (well, they are picky!). Simple melodies are good for discos, for the “break” that we need from time to time, but if you listen to them often, they make thinking more primitive. They have no depth, no undertones, no time to think. Well, it’s possible, but then it will be more difficult with the development of creative abilities.

Melody, as the musical dictionary explains, is “one of the most ancient and universal manifestations of human creativity.” It’s not for nothing that we say: “find your melody, your note.” There are no miracles - in order to develop, to be a creative person, you need to learn this: absorb the experience of others, absorb beauty. Each genre can present its own discoveries, but in the time-tested music of great composers: Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Fauré and others, there are so many states, images, shades that you can discover it throughout your life. The question is not in the music itself, but in what we can hear and understand in it, and what can pass us by.

In search of harmony

Harmony - translated from Greek as “consonance”, “proportionality”. Who doesn't dream about her? In music it is a combination of sounds, in communication it is understanding each other. And what happens in our soul, our inner world?

Someone will remember that in his early youth he listened to one thing, but now he likes something completely different. We change, and our favorite music changes with us. It can tell a lot about us - either about our desire to streamline life, giving it a stable rhythm, or about the desire to soar above the ordinary, breaking the usual boundaries and mastering the art of improvisation. Maybe now is the time to reconsider your music collection?

At the same time, in our soul there live images and memories too dear to forget, and there are also favorite melodies that excite us throughout our lives. If you don’t have them, please look - both in the depths of your soul and in the vast expanses of music. Such music will bring you out of the deepest depression, return you to yourself, and give you new strength. We can follow different paths - musical and life, try on different genres and fashion trends, but when we hear the first familiar sounds, we involuntarily turn around and remember, restore connection with something very dear.

“Music, with its melody, carries us to the very edge of eternity and gives us the opportunity to comprehend its greatness in a few minutes,” wrote Thomas Carlyle. There are no ready-made recipes, no universal answers, but there is always the opportunity to listen and take a step where there is no longer any place for logic and psychological calculations, but there is only an eternal secret called Music.

We live in a world of sounds: we listen to music and are constantly exposed to acoustic attacks from a noisy city. All this affects our health. And not always positively.

Wave theory

A correct understanding of the nature of sound was available to man even before the advent of specialized science. Aristotle argued that a sounding body causes compression and rarefaction of air and explained echo by the reflection of sound from obstacles. In the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci already connected sound with the propagation of waves, and in the 16th century, R. Boyle proved that the conductor of these waves is air (sound does not propagate in a vacuum). Modern physics understands sound as the propagation of mechanical vibrations in the form of waves with the obligatory presence of a conductor - it can be either air or any solid, liquid or gaseous body.
Any fluctuation involves indicators such as amplitude and frequency range. In the case of a sound wave, the frequency of this vibration determines whether the sound will be perceived by the human ear and what effect it will have on the body. Healthy man is able to hear sound vibrations in the frequency range from 16-20 Hz to 20 thousand Hz. In physics, everything that is below or above these boundaries is usually called infra- and ultrasound, respectively.

Any body - even a single cell of our body - is in a state of constant vibration, and each body has its own frequency and range of these vibrations. Thus, the frequency of brain oscillations differs in different cycles of body activity. There are five stages of brain activity, differing in the range of fluctuations, where the smaller range (delta, 0.5-4.0 Hz) corresponds to a state of complete relaxation, sleep, and the higher (K-complex, 23-33 Hz) corresponds to excitement, flashes of insight and so on.

Most people don't hear low frequencies precisely because they coincide with brain waves. It is logical to assume that different frequencies can have different effects on the state of the human body. Research in this area is called psychoacoustics.

Technologies of acoustic influence on consciousness

Essentially, psychoacoustics is theoretical basis sound therapy. Man has always guessed that different sounds produce different effects on the state of the body and mind. Whether it's a church service or a mother's lullaby to her baby, we have always used sounds to influence the reality around us.

In the works of the Bulgarian doctor Lozanov, we find evidence that music with a tempo of 60 beats per minute (this tempo is typical, for example, for fugues by I. Bach) increases alpha activity (associated with relaxation) by 6%, while reducing it by 6% beta activity (associated with normal waking consciousness). At the same time, the pulse slows down by an average of 4 divisions of mercury, and people talk about a “state of relaxed consciousness.”
Then Dr. Lozanov discovered that he could speed up the learning process by using music at this rhythm.

In America, his method became known as Superlearning. It became clear to Dr. Lozanov that the rhythm of music has a powerful effect on the brain. In the process, he discovered that the timbre, or tonality, of music also had a strong effect on brain function. Today, the results of his research have developed into a separate direction - the technology of acoustic brain research (Acoustic Brain Research, ABR); a Super learning is used in progressive (experimental) educational institutions America: the training process uses audio recordings with a rhythm and timbre suitable for obtaining the desired effect.

Another representative of psychoacoustics, Dr. Sue Chapman, conducted an experiment at the City Hospital New York, studying the effects of music on babies born prematurely. One group of babies listened to Brahms' Lullaby (variation for string instruments) six times a day, and the other group did not listen to any music. Newborns who listened to Brahms gained weight faster, suffered fewer complications, and were discharged from the hospital on average a week earlier than those who did not listen to the music.

There's noise all around

Along with the directed and controlled impact on the human psyche, sounds, noise and music, surrounding a person everywhere, every day make a significant contribution to our psychological condition. In addition to the vibration frequency, an important indicator is the sound volume. In our context, it can also be designated by the term noise level, which is measured in decibels.

Thus, “white noise”, which has a calming acoustic effect, is considered to be the noise of foliage and surf, estimated from 20 to 40 dB. Prolonged exposure to noise levels of 60-90 dB inevitably causes irritation. Such noise includes the sound of an approaching train, a human scream, a running motorcycle engine, etc.

With constant exposure to noise of 95-110 dB (for example, the sound of a jet plane at an altitude of 300 m), hearing loss, neuropsychic stress (depression, agitation, aggressiveness), hypertension and even peptic ulcers are possible. Noise from 115 to 175 dB causes acoustic intoxication, disrupts sleep, and leads to deafness. Medical scientists include the volume of music in “earphones” in the last category, making disappointing predictions about the possible mass deafness of the generation of modern youth.

Auditory ways to control public consciousness

An important place in influencing individual and group consciousness is occupied by the achievements of the science of phonology - a branch of linguistics that studies the functional side of speech sounds. The influence of the timbre of speech and intonation on the listener is often stronger than the meaning of the spoken words, notes S. Kara-Murza in his work “Manipulation mass consciousness" For example, the announcer's voice is the main criterion for the success and effectiveness of radio advertising, which is why its choice is of great importance.

Everyone is familiar with the voice of Yuri Borisovich Levitan, the announcer of the State Committee of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on television and radio broadcasting, who read the reports of the Sovinformburo during the war and announced the capture of Berlin and the Victory. Levitan was personally chosen for this position by Stalin, and ultimately became a voice of hope for Soviet citizens.

Research into the effects of tonality, timbre, and tempo of speech on listeners has been conducted since the mid-twentieth century in the United States. Their results are widely used today in election campaigns. For example, analysts predicted that during the pre-election debates on radio, the latter would be more advantageous in the Kennedy-Nixon pair, due to Kennedy’s too high-pitched voice and his “Harvard accent.” Psychoacoustics also work with current politicians. To achieve this, you need to influence the audience and the volume, timbre, and tempo of speech are consistent with the recommended parameters.